Equestrian riding over garment

ABSTRACT

A riding pant for equestrians having a retractable gusset with tab closure. The retractable gusset with tab closure allows the wearer to easily pull the over pants on over boots and then take up the extra fabric at the ankle for a tight fit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/043,128, filed Aug. 28, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to garments for equestrian riding and, more particularly, to protective over garments for equestrian riding.

These over pants are designed for English riders, who are involved in either hunter/jumper or dressage competitions. Hunter/jumper competitions have their roots in the days of the cavalry when horses were used for war. The competitions also try to mimic obstacles one would see while riding cross country. Dressage is a classical form of riding (often called ballet on horseback) that has its roots in ancient times (some would say Greek) and also developed in part as a way to train horses and riders for war situations.

In modern times, riders wear competition outfits in the hunter/jumper and dressage events. In both the hunter/jumper and dressage competitions the appearance of the rider and the pristine condition of the riding outfit is paramount. A rider can and will get marked down by judges scoring the events if the rider's clothes are not pristine.

More recently, riders have started wearing cover-ups in the form of either pajama bottoms or sweatpants over their breeches and boots before a competitive event in order to keep their competition outfit clean. Such pants are not designed for riding so they pose certain problems to the wearer. Apparel currently in use as riding over pants either have elastic cuffs encircling the ankle or calf (as with sweatpants) that are difficult to pull on and off over boots or wide-bottomed legs (as with pajama bottoms) that can't be narrowed while wearing. These makeshift riding over pants presently used by equestrians (sweatpants or pajama bottoms) are either too wide at the bottom of the leg, which can be a safety issue while wearing, or too narrow, which makes the pants difficult to pull on and off over boots.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved over garment for equestrian riding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an equestrian riding pant is provided which includes: a pant leg, an opening in the pant leg beginning at a cuff of the leg and extending substantially upwardly therefrom, the opening formed in a forward aspect of the pant leg; a gusset formed in the opening, the gusset operable between an open position and a closed position; and a closure releasably attached to the pant leg proximal to the opening, the closure having a fastener to secure the gusset in the closed position.

In other aspects, the closure is formed of a tab of material having a first end attached proximal to an inseam of the pant leg. The closure may further include a fastener attached to a second end of the tab, the fastener securable to a corresponding fastener on the pant leg proximal to an out seam of the pant leg. The closure may also be formed wherein the first end is stitched to the pant leg.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the equestrian riding pant may further include an insert formed along an inseam of the leg at a lower portion thereof and extending upwardly along the leg. The insert may extend to a buttocks portion of the pant and to a substantial portion of an aft surface of the pant leg.

The equestrian riding pant may also include a slit opening in the pant leg. The slit opening may be provided with a pocket defined on an interior area of the pant.

In another embodiment of the invention, the equestrian riding pant is provided a stirrup extending between the lateral aspects of an end leg opening of the pant leg. The stirrup is preferably formed from an elastic fabric.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2: Is a front view of the invention.

FIG. 3: Is a rear view of the invention.

FIG. 4: Is a side view of the invention

FIG. 5: Is a perspective detail view of the invention shown in use unsecured.

FIG. 6: Is a perspective detail view of the invention shown in use secured.

FIG. 7: Is a section view of the invention along line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8: Is a section view of the invention along line 8-8 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a retractable gusset with tab closure which allows the wearer to easily pull the over pants on over boots and then take up the extra fabric at the ankle for a tight fit.

As stated above, competitive equestrians often wear traditional pajama bottoms or sweat pants as over pants to cover their breeches and boots in order to maintain a clean appearance before competing. Such pants are not designed for riding so they pose certain problems to the wearer. Current riding over pants either have elastic cuffs that encircle the leg around the ankle or calf (as with sweatpants) that are difficult to pull on and off over boots or wide-bottomed legs (as with pajama bottoms) that can't be narrowed while wearing. The invention claimed here, integrated into the design of the Jodhpur Jammies® equestrian over pant, solves this problem.

The gusset allows for the presence of extra fabric to widen the leg, making it easy to pull on and off over breeches and boots. The tab closure then takes in the extra fabric to allow for a tight fit at the ankle while wearing. The claimed invention differs from what currently exists. First of all, Jodhpur Jammies® are the only over pants specifically designed for equestrians. Prior to the development of the integrated gusset system in use in Jodhpur Jammies®, there was no way for an equestrian to have an over pant with a leg wide enough to easily slip on over riding boots while then being tight-fitting at the ankles while wearing.

The gusset system of the Jodhpur Jammies® provides a new option for the equestrian rider. Prior to this invention, equestrians could either wear an over pant with a leg wide enough to easily slip on over riding boots or one which was tight-fitting at the ankles while wearing, but not both. Over pants with a wide-bottomed leg can be a safety issue when the rider's foot is in the stirrup, as the extra fabric could get wrapped around the stirrup iron in a fall or it could brush up against the side of the horse, thus startling the animal.

The retractable gusset with tab closure allows the wearer to easily pull the over pants on over boots and then take up the extra fabric at the ankle for a tight fit.

As may be seen in reference to FIG. 1, the equestrian over pants 10 of the present invention include a pair of pant legs 12 and stirrups 24 at the ends of the pant legs 12. The stirrups 24 fit under the heel of a riding boot 22 to retain the pant legs 12 in their downward position and to prevent them from riding up the wearer's leg. In preferred embodiments, the stirrups 24 are formed of an elastic material to permit limited stretching of the pant legs 12 as the wearer maneuvers about, such as mounting their horse.

In reference to FIG. 2, the equestrian over pant 10 further includes a gusset 14. The gusset 14 is preferably, but not necessarily, triangular in shape, and may comprise one to multiple pleats or no pleats. The gusset 14 is attached to an opening of the pant leg 12 that is preferably positioned on a front face of the pant leg 12. The opening would extend from an end of the pant leg 12 at the cuff. More preferably, the gusset 14 is positioned at the middle of the lower leg portion at or adjacent to the ankle or placed on either side of the lower leg at or adjacent to the ankle. The gusset 14 may include multiple placements on the lower leg 12.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the gusset 14 when opened to its widest extent preferably measures between about 8 to 10 inches. When closed, the gusset 14 preferably measures between about 4 or fewer inches. As best seen in reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the gusset 14 may also measure between about 6 to 10 inches in height that is from end of the pant leg 12 to an apex of the gusset 14.

The over pant 10 may further comprise a closure 16 that may be formed as an attached tab 16 that is placed horizontally or diagonally across the leg 12 opening and the gusset 14. Preferably, the closure 16 has a first end that has a fixed attachment to the pant leg 12. The fixed attachment may include, for example stitching. More preferably, the fixed end is positioned proximate to an inseam of the leg 12 with a free end of the closure 16 extending to the out seam of the leg 12. The closure 16 preferably measures about 3 inches in length and 1 inch in height. The closure 16 may include tabs 16 that are greater or lesser in height or length. The closure 16 may comprise of fabric, elastic, or other suitable materials necessary for securement of the gusset 14 in a closed position.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 1-3, the over pant 10 may further include an insert 26 extending from a lower portion of the leg 12 along an inseam thereof. The insert 26 may further extend to a back surface of the leg 12 and upwardly towards the buttocks region of the over pant 10. The insert 26 is selected of a suitable material so as to provide a frictional contact surface for the rider when mounted on a saddle. Suitable materials include a real or synthetic softened leather or buckskin, clarino, or micro-fiber. More preferably the insert 26 is slightly elastic to allow some flexibility in movement in the pant legs 12 so as to prevent binding, while mounting the horse or while riding, such as seen in FIG. 1. Optionally, the over pant 10 is provided with one or more slit openings 28 for containing small items in a pocket enclosed therein. Alternatively, the slit openings 28 may be formed without a pocket to allow the wearer to adjust their breeches worn beneath the over pant 10.

As seen in reference to FIG. 5, the closure 16 preferably includes a fastener 18 attached to a free end of the tab 16. The closure fastener 18 attaches to a corresponding fastener 20 attached to the pant leg 12 proximal to the gusset 14 opening in the leg 12. The fasteners 18 and 20 are preferably, but not necessarily, a heavy-duty snap. The fastener 18 may be attached to the tab 16 with the receiving end attached to the outside of the lower leg at the edge of the gusset or vice versa. The fasteners 18 and 20 may include any type of snap, button, a hook and eye closure, a loop, Velcro®, or zipper or combinations thereof.

The gusset 14 is required to widen the leg 12 opening at a lower end so as to permit the wearer to readily don the over garment 10 over their show uniform, including their riding boots 24. When fastened, the closure 16 functions as a retractor to cinch and close the gusset 14, in order to narrow the leg 12 opening while it is being worn. When released, the closure 16 allows the gusset 14 to widen again, thus restoring the pant leg 12 to its original width. Preferably the closure 16 is secured at attachment points to the non-gusseted part of the pant leg 12.

The wearer (equestrian) would be able to easily pull the over pants on over boots and breeches when the gusset 14 is opened. Once the pant 12 is on, the wearer can them close the tab 16 with the fasteners 18, 20, thus taking up the extra fabric of the gusset 14 for a tight fit while wearing. The various aspects of the invention eliminates the safety issues involved with wearing a loose-fitting pair of over pants, or those associated with gusseted closures positioned at the out seam of a riding pant.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An equestrian riding pant, comprising: a pant leg, a opening in said pant leg beginning at a cuff of said leg and extending substantially upwardly therefrom, said opening formed in a forward aspect of said pant leg; a gusset formed in said opening, said gusset operable between an open position and a closed position; and a closure releasably attached to said pant leg proximal to said opening, said closure having a fastener to secure said gusset in said closed position.
 2. The equestrian riding pant of claim 1, wherein said closure is formed of a tab of material having a first end attached proximal to an inseam of said pant leg.
 3. The equestrian riding pant of claim 2, wherein said closure further comprises: a fastener attached to a second end of said tab, said fastener securable to a corresponding fastener on said pant leg proximal to an out seam of said pant leg.
 4. The equestrian riding pant of claim 2, wherein said first end is stitched to said pant leg.
 5. The equestrian riding pant of claim 1, further comprising an insert formed along an inseam of said leg at a lower portion thereof and extending upwardly along said leg.
 6. The equestrian riding pant of claim 5, wherein said insert extends to a buttocks portion of the pant and to a substantial portion of an aft surface of said pant leg.
 7. The equestrian riding pant of claim 1, further comprising: a slit opening in said pant leg.
 8. The equestrian riding pant of claim 7, wherein said slit opening has a pocket defined on an exterior area of said pant.
 9. The equestrian riding pant of claim 1 further comprising: a stirrup extending between the lateral aspects of an end leg opening of said pant leg.
 10. The equestrian riding pant of claim 1, wherein said stirrup is formed from an elastic fabric.
 11. An equestrian riding pant, comprising: a pant leg, a opening in said pant leg beginning at a cuff of said leg and extending substantially upwardly therefrom, said opening formed in a forward aspect of said pant leg; a gusset formed in said opening, said gusset operable between an open position and a closed position; and a closure releasably attached to said pant leg proximal to said opening, said closure having a fastener to releasably secure said gusset in said closed position; a stirrup extending between the lateral aspects of an end leg opening. 